Weighing device

ABSTRACT

A weighing device for aerosol containers which also functions as a cap for the container.

421,221 2/1890 Zwigsicteial. ..177 /232;

United States Patent 1151 3,687,209

Goldberg et al. Aug. 29, 1972 54] WEIGHING DEVICE 739,047 9/1903 Wilson..177/126 [721 Mouse 132E235 iii/13% i iiiiiiiiiiiiiii3113:1311:1331533flack, Falflawn, 2,009,363 7/1935 Schewier ..177/232 [73] Revkm FOREIGNPATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS [22] 1971 612,350 4/1935 Germany ..177/127 21Appl, No; 2 1,037,598 7/1966 Great Britain ..177/233 PrimaryExaminer-Robert S. Ward, Jr. [52] US. Cl. ..l77/233, 177/126, 177/245'Attomey-Leon E. Tenenbaum 511 1111. C1 ..G0lg 3/02, GOlg l9/52, G0lg23/00 531 Field 61 Search ..177/232, 233, 225, 126, 127, ABSTRACT177/144, 245 A weighing device for aerosol containers which alsofunctions as a cap for'the container. 56 References Cited 1lClaim,5DrawingFigures UNITED STATES PATENTS PATENTEDwczs i872 sum 2 OF2 WEIGHING DEVICE The present invention relates to a weighing device,and, more particularly, to a device for weighing containers such asaerosol dispensing containers.

Containers, such as aerosol containers, are for the most partconstructed of opaque materials, and it is not possible by visualinspection to determine how full such containers are. It is alsodifficult to estimate how much material remains in an opaque containermerely by lifting it or by shaking it. Furthermore, it is impractical toweigh such a container on a separate weighing means each time it isdesired to know how much material remains in the container. Even ifweighing means are available for weighing the container, the use of suchmeans is complicated by the fact that the weight of the container mustbe known and taken into account before the contents remaining in thecontainer can be determined. Furthermore, cost and convenience factorsincident to the use of separate weighing means create problems.

Various devices have been devised to overcome these and otherdifficulties and at the same time provide means indicating approximatelythe remaining contents of an aerosol container. However, for the mostpart, these known devices have been relatively expensive to constructand have been difficult to attach to the containers. Some of these knowndevices required modification of the containers thereby increasing theexpense. Others of these known devices were inconvenient to use andcreated difficulties in packaging and storing the container.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide aweighing device which may be used conveniently to determine the amountof material present in an aerosol container.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a weighingdevice which is inexpensive to construct.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide aweighing device for weighing an aerosol container which device may alsobe used as the cap for the container.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a weighingdevice for use with aerosol containers, which use will not require anystructural or other modifications of the container.

These and other objects will become apparent from a reading of thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

The present invention provides a calibrateddevice for use with anaerosolcontainer for indicating the amount of material remaining in thecontainer, comprising a cap which fits over the top of the container.Preferably, the cap is cylindrical. Fitting against the inner surface ofthe cap but movable in relation thereto is a cylinder provided with atop portion. A spring or other compressible means is attached to theinner surface of the cap and to the outer surface of the top portion ofthe inner'movable cylinder. The inner cylinder is provided with alongitudinal slit in its side portion, extending from just below theupper end of the cylinder to the lower end, but terminating beforereaching the lower end by curving laterally to form a short lateralslip. The slip engates a pin projecting inwardly from the inside of thecap, said pin being positioned at the lower end of the cap. The pin isof integral construction with the cap; however, the pin may be in theform of a movable screw which is inserted in and may be moved in a holewhich has been made in the desired position in the side of the cap.

By moving the inner cylinder into the cap until the lateral slip is incontact with the pin and then turning the inner cylinder so that the pinengages the lateral slip, the inner cylinder is set in a lockedposition. The

inner cylinder and cap are of such length so that, when the innercylinder is in the locked position and the cap is placed on the top ofthe aerosol container, no contact will be made with the exposeddispensing means of the container.

To use the device of the present invention, the cap is removed from theaerosol container and the inner cylinder is released from its lockedposition by disengaging the pin from the lateral slip. This is readilyachieved by turning the inner cylinder in the proper direction. Thespring then forces the inner tube out. The aerosol container is thenplaced on top of the cap and the weight of the container will push thecap down. The outer side of the inner cylinder is provided with acalibrated scale, and the indicator, for use with the scale, is thebottom of the cap. By reading the scale, one can then determine theamount of material remaining in the container.

The cap and inner cylinder may be constructed of any suitable materialsuch as, for example, a thin sheet metal such as aluminum or tin, or aplastic such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or other suitable plastics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theassembled device of the present invention showing the inner movablecylinder in the unlocked position.

FIG. 2 is a different perspective view of the assembled device showingthe inner movable cylinder in the unlocked position.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the disassembled inner cylinder showingthe slit.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, reference numeral 10 generally indicates the weighingdevice.

The device includes a cap 11 and an inner cylinder 12 inside the cap andmovable in relation thereto. The inner cylinder is provided with a topportion 13. A spring 14 is attached to the outer side 15 of said topportion and tothe inner side 16 of the top portion of the cap. The sideof the inner cylinder is provided with a longitudinal slit 17 extendingfrom just below the upper end of the cylinder and terminating beforereaching the lower end by curving to form a short lateral slip 18. Theslip engages a pin 19 which projects inwardly from and is of integralconstruction with the cap. The inner cylinder is also provided with acalibrated scale 20 on its side, which scale is used to indicate theamount of material in the aerosol container when the container is placedon the top of the cap.

We claim:

3 4 1. A weighing device for aerosol containers compristending from justbelow the upper end of the inner ing a cap and an inner cylinder insidethe cap and cylinder and terminating before reaching the lower movablein relation thereto, said inner cylinder being end of h y i er y curvingform a Short provided with: lateral slip which engages a pin whichprojects ini. a top portion the outer surface of which is joined by 5 Wy from and is of integl' constructiQll with a spring to the innersurface of the top portion of the QP' and h I 111. a cahbrated scale onits outer side. ii. a longitudinal slit in its side portion, said slitex-

1. A weighing device for aerosol containers comprising a cap and aninner cylinder inside the cap and movable in relation thereto, saidinner cylinder being provided with: i. a top portion the outer surfaceof which is joined by a spring to the inner surface of the top portionof the cap; ii. a longitudinal slit in its side portion, said slitextending from just below the upper end of the inner cylinder andterminating before reaching the lower end of the cylinder by curving toform a short lateral slip which engages a pin which projects inwardlyfrom and is of integral construction with the cap; and iii. a calibratedscale on its outer side.